Flora of Israel: Mignonette

Reseda decursiva,Reseda eremophila, Mignonette,
Hebrew: רכפה קטנת-פרחים, Arabic: البليحاء البيضاء نويع المتطورة

Scientific name:   Reseda decursiva Forssk.
Synonym name:   Reseda eremophila Boiss.
Common name:   Mignonette
Hebrew name:   רכפת קטנת-פרחים
Arabic name:   البليحاء البيضاء نويع المتطورة
Family:   Resedaceae, רכפתיים


Life form:   annual
Stems:   10-50 cm high
Leaves:   Rosette;leaves mostly at base; dissected, dissected once; dentate or serrate margin
Flowers:   Hermaphrodite; flowers in terminal racemes. Sepals usually 4-7. white petals as many as the sepals, entire or shizopetalous, with a basally attached appendage. Stamens 10-40, inserted on a broad disc
Fruits / pods:   Pods almost sessile, obovate to oblong; 4-8 mm long
Flowering Period:   February, March, April, May
Habitat:   Shrub-steppes, Desert
Distribution:   Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands, Shrub-steppes, Deserts and extreme deserts
Chorotype:   Saharo-Arabian
Summer shedding:   Ephemeral


Derivation of the botanical name:

Reseda, Latin resedare, “to assuage or calm,” because of supposed sedative properties.

decursiva, passing.
The Hebrew name: רכפה, richpa, Reseda is mentioned in the Mishnah as one of the plants that produce color: “And the species of dye, poa and richpa“.

  • The standard author abbreviation Forssk. is used to indicate Peter Forsskål (1732 – 1763), a Swedish explorer, orientalist, naturalist.
  • The standard author abbreviation Boiss. is used to indicate Pierre Edmond Boissier (1810 – 1885), a Swiss botanist, explorer and mathematician.